Cardinals swear secrecy at upcoming papal conclave

Cardinals arrive at the Paul VI hall for the opening of the Cardinals' Congregations on March 4, 2013 in Vatican City. The congregations of cardinals will continue until all cardinal electors have arrived in Rome, whereupon the College will decide on the start-date of the Conclave to elect a new Pope. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

VATICAN CITY -- Cardinals at the Vatican have sworn an oath of secrecy about their upcoming conclave to elect a new pope.

The Vatican said 107 of the 115 voting-age cardinals attended the first day of pre-conclave meetings, at which cardinals organize the election, discuss the problems of the church and get to know one another before voting.

They prayed together, chatted over coffee and took an oath to maintain "rigorous secrecy with regard to all matters in any way related to the election of the Roman Pontiff."

No date has been set yet for the conclave, but speculation has mounted that it might begin around March 11, with the aim of having a new pope installed by March 17, the Sunday before Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week.

With 115 electors, 77 votes are needed to reach the two-thirds majority to be elected pope.